Shoe brush



Aug. 3, 1965 c. F. LA CORATA 3,197,799

SHOE BRUSH Filed June 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

F I G. I

v INVENTOR CHRISTOPHER F. LGCORATA Aug. 3, 1965 c. F. LA CORATA SHOE BRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1962 L1 Ji FIG. 8

IN CHRISTOPHE VENTOR R Lu CORATA ATIORNEYS United States Patent 3,197,799 SHOE BRUSH Christopher F. lLa Corata, Albany Post Road, Coldspring, N.Y. Filed dune 6, 1962, Ser. No. 200,550 Claims. (ill. 15529) The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application entitled: Portable Electric Shoe Brush, Serial No. 50,446, filed August 18, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to shoe brushes; specifically to a portable rotary shoe brush in combination with a novel shoe polish applicator, and to novel manually operated hoe brushes.

It has been proposed heretofore to construct a powerdriven rotary brush for shining shoes and means have been employed within the brush head for applying polish, such means being generally an extensible daubing brush. However, the proposed devices have been unduly cumbersome because of the number and complexity of parts required to extend and retract the polish applicator.

The present invention is an improvement over devices referred to above which are known to the applicant. Disclosed herein is a power-driven rotary shoe brush placed in combination with a shoe polish applicator in a manner not requiring extension or retraction of the latter. In its preferred form, the applicator comprises a storage bottle or container for liquid shoe polish which has been pro vided with a roll on ball-type applicator tip. The brush head of a non-elected embodiment of the invention is adapted to be driven by commercially available portable power packs which conveniently may be energized by transistorized storage cells. Advantageously, the brush head and the polish applicator are readily removed by a simple quick disconnect means from the portable power pack so that diiferent heads for polishing shoes of different colors may be quickly and easily interchanged.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, I provide a manual shoe brush having, a in the previous, electrically powered form, a body which is adapted to contain a storage receptacle for liquid shoe polish. The body is of conventional elongated shape having a plurality of bristles depending from its lower surface. In one manual brush embodiment, the applicator tip of the receptacle is permitted to extend from the lower surface of the brush so that reciprocating movements of the brush by the user will, due to the relative sliding contact between the tip and shoe, distribute polish thereupon. The receptacle and tip may also be made extensible from the body and for this purpose, I provide an actuating button in contact with the receptacle which protrudes from the upper surface of the body and which may be depressed against spring pressure to urge the receptacle and applicator tip from a retracted position within the body.

In another form presenting certain unique advantages, I mount the receptacle within the body such that the applicator tip extends, for example, from a forward edge thereof so that the applicator tip is eparate from the polishing bristles. The receptacle is resiliently mounted to protrude from the body of the brush and an adjustment is provided controlling the distance which the applicator tip may be extended from the body.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon an examination of the following description relating to a particular embodiment, and of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the rotary shoe brush head of the invention and its connection with a portable power pack;

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FIG. 2 is a view of the brush head during the application of polish to a shoe;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a modification according to the invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective and cross-sectional views respectively illustrating a further manually operated embodiment of a shoe brush construction according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a second manually operated embodiment.

Referringnow to the drawing and initially to FIGS. l4 thereof, a rotary shoe brush head 10 which has been constructed according to the invention has been illustrated. The brush head it has a cylindrical body 11 adapted to receive bristles 12 which depend therefrom in a generally circular configuration. With reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the bristles l2 protrude from the lower sur face of the body 11 except from an area in its center.

The body 11 has been provided with a threaded bore 13 which receives a corresponding threaded portion of a stud 14 afiixedin turn to the base of a storage container 16. The container 16 may be constructed of any commerically available material, however, it is contemplated that the container will comprise a storage bottle made of polyethylene or polystyrene adapted for the reception of liquid shoe polish and which is made suitably rigid for the purpose as will appear. The container or bottle 16 has been provided with a lower end or applicator tip 17 having a plastic or glass ball 13 mounted for rotation therein to provide roll on or ball-type application of the liquid polish within the container. The ends of the bristles 12 extend for a distance beyond the end of the applicator tip 17 of the storage bottle 16.

Advantageously, the body 11 of the rotary brush is integrally connected to a shaft 19 which at its upper end has been provided with a laterally extending pin 20. The end of the shaft 19 and the pin 24? are adapted for quick connection with a driving receptacle 21 which forms part of a conventional portable power pack 22. Accordingly, the receptacle 2i defines a curved slot 23 oriented such that rotation of the receptacle will securely seat the pin 2% within the end of the slot.

The power pack 22 has not been illustrated in detail since power packs adapted for the purpose are readily available on the commercial market. In the illustrated embodiment, the power pack has been shown without electrical connections for the electric motor drive contained therein, and thus, the motor will be powered by storage cells which may be readily recharged by house current. However, alternatively, the power pack may be provided with means for direct connection to house current.

With reference to FIG. 2, the novel rotary shoe brush of the present invention has been shown in position for applying liquid polish to a shoe 24. During thi op eration, the head '10 may be stationary, or if desired,- may be driven by the power pack while the applicator tip 17 is brought into contact with the shoe. When a sufiicient quantity of liquid polish has been dispensed, the user will simply release some of the downward pressure applied during the application of the liquid polish, and with the ends of the bristles 12 only in contact with the shoe, bring about a gloss or shine thereto by rotating the brush head. Complete separation between the shoe and the applicator tip 17 may be maintained during the latter operation by very slightly cocking the brush head relative to the shoe.

According to the modification illustrated in FIG. 4, a rotatable shoe brush head 25 has been provided with a storage bottle 26 which in all particulars is the same as that previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, however, the storage bottle 26 is mounted to depend from the body of the head .25 at a position which is somewhat offset from the center of rotation thereof. The configuration shown possesses the advantage that the user may, while applying liquid polish, drive the head and thus achieve a degree of relative motion of the applicator tip against the surface to which polish is to be applied. This would, of course, eliminate or diminish the necessity for the user manually to move the brush head laterally with respect to the surface to which the polish is applied.

The construction of the disclosed combination shoe brush is advantageous in several particulars. VVnen a storage bottle 16 becomes empty, it is a simple matter to remove and replace the exhausted unit. Furthermore, the entire shoe brush head including the storage bottle containing liquid polish of a given color may easily be connected to or disconnected from the power pack by means of the pin-in-sl-ot arrangement shown. Consequently, different heads for different colors of shoe polish may be quickly and readily interchanged for use. Finally, the novel shoe brush head of the invention is extremely simple and economical to produce and trouble free in operation. These factors make the present invention a significant advance over prior power-driven shoe brushes of comparable function since the latter devices quite generally are not commercially feasible because of their relatively complex design.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate other embodiment of the invention which are adapted to be manually operated. Referring initially to FIGS. 5 and 6, a shoe brush 3% having a conventional rectangular shape comprises a body 31 having top and bottom surfaces 32, 33 and front and rear surfaces 34, 36. A plurality of polishing bristles 37 depend from the lower surface 33. The body 31 defines a lengthwise internal bore 33 which is adapted to receive a cylindrical storage container 39 for liquid polish. The container 39 has a ball-type applicator tip 41) which as shown and will be described in greater detail, will be permitted to extend for a distance from the forward end 34 of the body during the application of polish. Towards the surrace 35, the bore 38 is threaded to receive an adjustment screw 41 which may be rotated for translation of the screw 41 toward or away from the container39. Intermediate the adjustment screw 41 and the container 39, a spring 4-3 is provided which resiliently biases the container 39 in a forward direction. The storage container 39 also includes an annular shoulder 44 which forms an abutment surface for the rear edge of a helical spring 45. The latter, at its forward end bears against a rectangular insert 46 which is set into the body flush with the forward surface 34 thereof. The insert 46 is provided with a circu lar aperture 47 to permit the applicator end of the container 39 to protrude therefrom which is controlled by the adjustment or relative translation of the screw 41. Thus it will be possible for the user to rotate the knob 42, translating the screw 4-1 inwardly to urge the forward end of the container 39, including the applicator tip 4%, outwardly of the body into a. fully exposed position during the application of polish.

The strength of the spring 43 respective of the pressure of spring 45 against the shoulder 44 and thus the container 39 in a direction toward screw 4-1 is such that when the container 39 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 a clearance is maintained between the base of the applicator 39 and the inner end of the screw 41, for a reason which will be explained.

A cover plate 48 for the aperture 47 has been illustrated in partial cross-section in FIG. 5 and has been shown as removed from the surface 34 (in phantom) in FIG. 6. The body 31 has spaced retention or attach bores 49 inwardly of the front surface (only two of which appear in FIG. 5) which are arranged in triangular configuration one each adjacent to the upper edge of the insert member 46 and one below the center of the insert. The cover plate 43 has corresponding prongs 50 which are adapted to be received in the bores 49 to be retained therein by friction. With the adjustment screw 41 in the position shown in FIG. 6, the applicator tip 49 protrudes slightly from the aperture 47 and the plate 48 may be pressed flush against the sur face 4-4 to force the container 39 somewhat inwardly against the pressure of spring 4-3. Removal of the plate 48 automatically extends the tip 4t? to what may be termed a minimum application position since the strength of the spring 43 will be suflicient to overcome the compression strength of the spring 45 for this minimum travel. Thereafter, as previously explained, if the user wishes, the adjustment screw 41 may be translated further inwardly to extend the tip completely from the body. However, this latter action is not necessary for most applications, since the protrusion of the tip 40 from the body to the extent shown in FIG. 6 will be sufficient for applying the polish in most circumstances.

When the storage container 39 is depleted, the screw 1 may be removed from the body of the brush so that the spring may eject the container. The arrangement also permits the ready interchangeability of the storage container for the application of different colors of shoe polish.

A second manually operated embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein a brush 5]. comprises a body 52 having upper and lower surfaces 53, 54. A plurality of polishing bristles 55 are embedded in the body 52 and extend downwardly from the surface 54. The body of the brush defines a cylindrical bore 56 which extends generally downwardly in the same direction as the bristles 55. The bore 56 is adapted to receive a storage container 57 having a shoulder 58 adjacent the upper end thereof. Adjacent the lower end of the bore 56 is a shoulder 59 and intermediate the shoulders 5? and 58 respectively of the body and of the container 57, I provide a helical spring 60 which will tend to urge the container 57 upwardly and outwardly of the bore 56.

The base of the container 57 abuts the inner end of a plunger 61 having an enlarged semi-circular internal end 62 which contacts the rounded end of the container 57. The stem of the plunger 61 extends upwardly through an oversize opening 63 centrally in a threaded plug 64. The latter threadably engages the upper tapped end 56a of the bore 56 to retain the enlarged end 62 of the plunger 61 and thus the container 5'7 against resilient pressure of the spring 68. The upper extremity of the plunger 61 is attached to a button 66 which permits the user to press the plunger 61 downwardly for extending the applicator tip 67. The button 66 includes a catch 66a which may be seated in a transverse recess 63 defined internally of the body 52 when the button 66 has been fully depressed. In the latter position, the applicator tip 67 will extend generally to. a position even with the lower edge of the bristles 55 for the application of shoe polish. Before subsequent polishing by bristles 55, the catch 66!: will be disengaged from the recess 63 by shifting the stem of the plunger slightly forward, which is permitted by the oversize opening 63, to permit retraction from the tip 6'7 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 7. Removal of the container 57 for replacement or interchange with a container holding a different color, will be effected by removal of the plug 53 and ejection of the container 57 by the spring 60.

Since the foregoing description relates to particular embodiments which. are merely representative, changes may be made therefrom without departing from the clear teaching of the invention. Accordingly, in order to fully appreciate the spirit and scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims, in which I claim:

1. in combination with a shoe brush having a generally rectangular body and a plurality of polishing bristles depending thereform, means internally lengthwise of said body for receiving a container for liquid shoe polish, said container having an applicator tip, aperture means defined by an end portion of said body permitting said applicator tip to protrude therefrom, adjusting means for urging said container and applicator tip in a direction from the end of said body and spring means internally of said body urging said container in an opposite direction.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the means urging the container from said body comprises translating means in said body accessible for adjustment externally thereof, second spring means disposed intermediate said translating means and an internal base portion of said container, the last mentioned spring means tending to urge the container from said body through said aperture and permitting retraction of said container for a distance when pressure is applied against said applicator tip in a direction lengthwise of said body.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which the first spring means will eject the container from the body upon removal of the translating means and a cover plate is detachably secured over the aperture means for urging the container into the body against the pressure of :said second spring.

4. A shoe brush comprising in combination, a body, bristle means for boiling shoes depending from said body and defining a butting surface, a receptacle for storage of liquid shoe polish, said receptacle having a ball-type applicator tip for distributing polish upon relative contacting movement of said tip on a surface of a shoe, said applicator tip mounted to protrude from the lower surface of said body generally in the same direction as said bristles, means for mounting said receptacle on said body and for positioning said tip spaced from the bufiing surface of said bristle means and extended from said body to permit said tip to contact said shoe surface, said mounting means including manually operated means for causing said applicator tip to slide for a distance from said body for applying said polish to said surface and means for retracting said receptacle and tip into said body.

5. A shoe brush comprising in combination a body, bristle means for bufiing shoes depending from said body and defining a bufiing surface, a receptacle comprising a generally cylindrical container for storage of liquid shoe polish, said body defining a bore extending generally in the same direction as said bristles for the reception of said container, said receptacle having a ball-type applicator tip for distributing polish upon relative contacting movement of said tip on a surface of a shoe, said applicator tip mounted to protrude from the lower surface of said body generally in the same direction as said bristles, means for mounting said receptacle on said body and for positioning said tip spaced from the bufiiing surface of said bristle means and extended from said body to permit said tip to contact said shoe surface, means permitting sliding movement of said tip and receptacle from the lower bristle surface of said body, a button extending from the upper surface of said body and in contact with said receptacle, and spring means within said bore for urging said receptacle toward the upper surface of said brush and said button outwardly therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,897 4/04 Dunkle 15-536 1,405,059 1/22 Morgan 15556 X 2,226,898 12/ 40 Clouthier 15534 2,837,756 6/58 Barlow et al 15-574 X FOREIGN PATENTS 196,951 4/23 Great Britain.

33,267 7/ 12 Switzerland.

CHARLES A. WELLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,197,799 J August 3, 1965 Christopher F. La Corata It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 3 line 30, for "embodiment" read embodiments column 6 line 37 for "Switzerland" read Sweden Signed and sealed this 18th day of January 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SHOE BRUSH HAVING A GENERALY RECTANGULAR BODY AND A PLURALITY OF POLISHING BRISTLES DEPENDING THEREFORM, MEANS INTERNALY LENGTHWISE OF SAID BODY FOR RECEIVING A CONTAINER FOR LIQUID SHOE POLISH, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN APPLICATOR TIPO, APERTURE MEANS DEFINED BY AN END PORTION OF SAID BODY PERMITTING SAID APPLICATOR TIP TO PROTRUDE THEREFROM, ADJUSTING MEANS FOR URGING SAID CONTAINER AND APPLICATOR TIP IN A DIRECTION FROM THE END OF SAID BODY AND SPRING MEANS INTERNALLY OF SAID BODY URGING SAID CONTAINER IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 